Talk about your Bread Machines

[Shawn]

Talk about you Bread Machines here.

[KLF]

These recipies can be made the conventional way, not just with a bread machine, right? Or am I going to have to break down and buy one?

[janet]

Wow! I want to try all of these recipes. My problem ??? I need to buy a bread machine, any advice??? What are good brands??

janet

Mine is a Panasonic and is ten years old, so I don't know if they even sell them anymore!!! Maybe some of the other ladies will have some advice.

Raine

[Shawn]

I had a welbuilt and gave that one to my mom. We now have a Black & Decker.

Boy I should get it out of the basement and start making some healthy grain bread.

[peabiscuit]

Williams-Sanoma Breadmachines

I got my breadmachine from them 6 or 7 years ago. Last year, Sweetheart accidentally *threw out* the paddle stuck inside a failed loaf (brick) of multigrain experimentation.

We went back to W-S only to find that the design of breadmachines had changed and that we wouldn't be able to get a new paddle to fit the old machine. I was upset, I used the thing nearly every day. Ugh. Oh well.

The manager asked when we had gotten it, looked up the price from then in a binder ($300-something), gave us a brand new machine (better than the old one, more features) AND a store credit for the rest of what we had paid!!! We even argued that the paddle had been THROWN OUT, not broken! Unbelievable.

Their stuff may be a bit more expensive, but with value like that, I highly recommend their stuff.

[janet]

Peabiscuit, Wow talk about great customer service! I can see already making a choice for a bread machine will be hard. As I read some of the bread recipes, do youhave to use bread machine flour? I usually make bread the old fashion way and use King Arthur's Flour only...Does anyone else use this??

janet

If I have bread flour on hand, I use it. If I run out of bread flour or it isn't on sale, I use all-purpose. I honestly can't tell the difference.

I buy yeast at Sam's Club and freeze it. Then measure it out right into the bread machine.

Happy Baking!

[indnan]

Janet I'd suggest borrowing a machine or looking for an inexpensive one at a garage sale, resale shop,or even eBay.

I borrowed one several years ago, tried 3 loaves of bread and had 3 failures. Gave the machine back and didn't make a loaf since. The other day I found a 'like new' machine at a church rummage sale. I've tried 3 loaves and have had 3 wonderful successes!

An article I read said something about trying a store bought machine a few times and if you can't get it to produce a good loaf of bread - take the machine back! I'm sure the store would have to have an easy return policy.

I'm glad I found this topic. I'm eager to try othe recipes as I've only made basic white bread. I purchased Pillsbury bread flour, whole wheat flour and that Kings bread flour. Between Pillsbury and the King's, I think the King's might produce a 'denser' bread. Has anyone else found this to be true?

[janet]

Thanks indnan for all the great advice....I have been combing the garage sales for a bread machine, no luck so far....I don't know anyone who has one...I seem to be the only one who really cooks and makes things from scratch in my circle of friends...most of my friends eat out all the time...YUCK I feel I can cook better than the restaurants we have here, or maybe is it that I have been cooking since I was 11 yrs old....my first meal I cooked...A special summer Thanksgiving for my Father and Grandma, they were so surprised! lol

janet